There’s no “I” in “TEAM”. Teams are comprised of people who have complementary skills who are united in a common objective and goals for performance and a method by which they are held accountable. They can be formed on a whim as project teams, or more permanent groups of workers. While teams tend to perform better than individuals, it’s the “people” issues that cause the majority of issues. Therefore, if you believe that it is necessary to have a team at your workplace, think about these factors…
1. Establish clear, achievable goals.
One of the primary causes of the ineffectiveness of teams is that they aren’t sure what they’re doing or the reason for their formation. A team is most successful when all members understand their purpose and goals.
2. Make a plan that is clear.
When you have formed a team with specific goals and clarified the team’s purpose The next step in your process should be make sure that the team won’t be forced to “muddle”. Let the team know what guidance and training, help in the form of materials and other resources it might require. Develop a flow diagram that sets the steps for the project, as well as the materials required as well as any additional requirements for training or budgetary considerations.
3. Define roles clearly.
Effective teams support members to contribute and the expectations for performance are crucial. Pay attention to ‘who’ will do what. The roles shared by everyone must be clearly defined. The benefit of having clear the roles of each person is it reduces the chance of two individuals having to do the same tedious work.
4. Make sure you communicate clearly.
Effective teams are interdependent. Each member makes significant contributionsand relies on the other.
The other. In a team setting the quality of discussions is dependent on how information is shared among its members.
Make sure that the members speak in a clear and concise manner, actively listen and explore opportunities instead of discuss them, and also communicate all relevant information.
5. Encourage team-based behavior.
“T-E A-M” stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More’ therefore, ensure that the culture at work will encourage all employees to apply their talents to make the workplace more enjoyable to work in. Examples of this include initiating, seeking out information proposing procedures, clarifying the process, explaining compromise, and acknowledging the contribution of other employees. Collaboration is the replacement for competition as a team’s modus operating procedure. Establish clear boundaries to ensure team members are conscious of any limitations to their freedom of choice.
6. Adopting decision-making processes that are acceptable.
The end result is that a team has to take a number of decisions that will affect how it makes those decisions will indicate its
effectiveness. (Group factors for decision-making are described in the e-book and Effective Problem Solving as well as Decision-Making.) Prepare to participate during any group discussion and be the leader needed. You could even join as a participant in the group.
7. Enhance awareness of group processes.
If people are to be fully-functioning members of a group they should be aware of the group’s procedures and the way the group collaborates. You must demonstrate the importance of the dynamics of your group, draw attention to non-verbal communication and be conscious of changes in the team’s behavior.
8. Expect participation.
Teams allow people to participate in decision-making and problem-solving particularly
in which the results are likely to impact the members. The majority of people are goal-oriented, social beings, so everyone should be involved in the discussions and decisions. They should be committed to the completion of any project But participation should be proportional to a range of factors, including knowledge about the subject being discussed as well as the level of investment in the end result and the amount of commitment an individual is willing to give. Individuals who aren’t prepared to be part of the team are not a good candidate as a member of a group project or for a work team.
9. Set the ground guidelines.
Have the team established rules or guidelines for what can and won’t be acceptable within the group. It’s too late to discuss guidelines after the team has been in operation for a period of time. To begin, teams should expect to be supportive of one another and listen attentively and collaborate, contribute to the team and cooperate, accept on their own responsibility for their actions, and enjoy themselves.
10. Get the best information.
The use of data that is accurate makes problem solving and making decisions much simpler Failure to locate and make use of high-quality data could significantly impact acceptable results. A strong opinion – even dominance is squelched through the use of information. Therefore, opinions must be backed through, or at the very least be influenced by, such data. Another benefit is that reliable information will minimize the likelihood of disagreements among groups.
